Placebo - Battle for the Sun

It wouldnt be unreasonable to term Placebo a bucking one tricky pony--their slightly smutty business card has remained tucked behind the change slot in the figurative phone-box of British rock since the mid-90s. While what once shocked inevitably shocks no more, they have been sort of admonished of the expectation that they might progress via the fairly consistent achievements of frontman Brian Molkos sharp pen and down to the fact that there is still nobody quite like them. Returning after a three year break with Battle For The Sun they avoid the slightly pedestrian tendencies of their last couple of albums and present a bullish collection of songs that offer devotees reason to be cheerful (or sultry and stern as the case may be) while packaging the whole familiar experience in such a way that stomping their steel-toed size sixes across mainstream radio becomes a distinct possibility again. Much of that may be down to producer David Bottril who has previously worked with Muse and Tool--and it shows. Theres nothing as dramatically visceral or primed as early classics, but "Ashtray Heart" (a very very Placebo title for a start), "Bright Lights" (featuring the astute and beautifully delivered line; "a heart that hurts / is a heart that works") and the brilliantly robotic title track grind and bruise decisively. Short on shocks perhaps, but tingles down the spine flow regardless.